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Miller has Broncos' D dominating once again

2012 squad brings back memories of Orange Crush

By Jeff Legwold The Denver Post

Posted:
12/15/2012 10:46:42 PM MST

Updated:
12/15/2012 10:46:54 PM MST

BALTIMORE -- Before John Elway became the face of the Broncos franchise, before Mike Shanahan, before T.D., before Rod and Eddie, before Sharpe's sharp tongue, before the Super Bowl titles and before anybody saluted, there was the Orange Crush.

It was a time when the Broncos were defined by defense. It was the 1977 season, when the Orange Crush defense led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance, inspiring a fandom that to this day helps define the city of Denver.

The guy who coordinated the Orange Crush defense, arranging the pieces on a grass chessboard, thinks NFL history may have finally come full circle in Denver.

"What I see is that Jack Del Rio's done a great job," said Joe Collier, the Broncos' defensive coordinator from 1972-88. "To make it all work, you've got to have good players, sure, but they have to play well together, be guys who raise each other up. These guys have it and Von (Miller), he's just got a relentless motor, just a hell of player.

"I like what they do and how they do it. I really hope Jack sticks around, because that group really has the potential to do special things."

This year's defense, led by Miller, its young linebacker, is drawing comparisons to those great Orange Crush defenses, specifically the 1977 team, which ranked third in the league in fewest points allowed. This year's team, riding an eight-game winning streak heading into Sunday's game at Baltimore, ranks fourth in points allowed.

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In his role as team executive, following his Broncos career as a Hall of Fame quarterback, Elway certainly understands the role of having a prime-time passer. He has consistently said that having a franchise quarterback is "far away" the most important piece of the roster-building puzzle.

But Elway isn't one of those all-offense guys.

"I've spent a lot of time before I took this job and since talking to people who have been in the league a long time," he said. "The consensus you hear from those football people is get the quarter-back and then get the guy who knocks them down."

No. 2 pick becoming

No. 1 defender

Elway got his quarterback, Peyton Manning, this past spring. But circumstances made that decision second in the order. Elway stared at the draft board in 2011 -- his first draft after taking over -- and saw what the Broncos' defense could be.

That's why Elway made Miller the No. 2 overall pick in that draft. Less than two seasons later, Miller has won the NFL defensive rookie of the year award and this year has caused enough mayhem to put himself in the running for the league's defensive player of the year award.

"Of course I want to accomplish something as great as that, but it's one of those things ... if I don't get it this year, God willing I'll have more chances in the future to get it," Miller said. "It's a big deal, but it's not as big a deal as the type of team that we have and the type of things we can accomplish as a team this year."

Miller is only the third NFL player since the start of the 1994 season to produce at least 15 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles in the same season. Miller ranks third in the league in sacks (16) and second in tackles for loss (24), with 12 of those tackles for loss coming against the run.

"That shows you there is just no limit to what he can be," said Karl Mecklenburg, a Broncos Ring of Famer. "Von is as gifted as anybody I've ever seen, from a standing start to full speed in one step, able to change directions, kind of unnaturally.

"And his attitude, humble guy, so many of the gifted athletes come into the league thinking they know everything. He understands if he wants to be one of the best of all time he has to learn to play the run. To see the tremendous progress he's made in that area just shows you what he can be. Just a year later, people are running the other way and he's already one of the best in the league rushing the passer."

Only one player in Broncos history has won the league's defensive player of the year award -- Randy Gradishar in 1978. The Broncos have never led the league in total defense -- average yards allowed per game -- and have led the league in scoring defense only once, in 1989.

Gradishar gives his

endorsement

Denver ranks fourth in total defense this year, which would be the highest finish for the Broncos since the 1989 season. The Broncos rank second in the league in sacks, with Miller and Elvis Dumervil having combined for 24 of the defense's 39.

"I like watching them play a great deal," Gradishar said. "I believe Von's proven he deserves to win that award, in his second year, and that's quite an accomplishment, to even be in the discussion at this point in his career. I know he'd get my vote. He has to be considered for that. He's proven it."

When asked to pick his best defense, Collier chose 1977 -- when the Broncos set a franchise record by allowing only 148 points in a 14-game season and led the NFL in run defense.

"We had a stretch there that was pretty good, but that first year we went to the Super Bowl was our best year statistically. I think that was the one for me," Collier said. "I think the group they have now really has some potential. (Miller) is that difference maker. A fun player to watch, that's for sure.

"I think all you need to know is as he moves forward, continues to work on his game, teams are going to spend a lot of time sitting around trying to figure out ways to keep him out of the backfield. And that's a great place to start for any defense."

Miller credited his teammates and coaches, including linebackers coach Richard Smith, for his success, then added: "To hear the things people who came before me here have said is great. I want to be the kind of guy they say those things about years from now. I just know I'm in a great situation. I think we can do great things."

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